Application of stirred mill to upgrading of graphite concentrate by flotation. (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Hongxin; Li, Hongchao; Feng, Ansheng; Guo, Zhenxu; Zhang, Yahui
• Is Part Of: Canadian metallurgical quarterly. Volume 57:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 245
• Page End: 251
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: Layered minerals -- graphite -- upgrading -- grinding -- stirred mill; Metallurgy -- Periodicals; 669.05
• DOI: 10.1080/00084433.2017.1409934
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-4433

Abstract

ABSTRACT: It is difficult to obtain high-grade concentrates for layered minerals, such as graphite, by mineral processing due to the existence of impurities between interlayers. Conventional grinding mills are inefficient in liberating the mineral layers. Upgrading a graphite concentrate by re-grinding with a designed stirred mill is investigated in this paper. Better liberation of mineral layers was achieved, compared with a ball mill and a rod mill. Through re-grinding with the stirred mill followed by a two-stage cleaning flotation process, a low-grade graphite concentrate containing 84.59% fixed carbon could be refined to a high-quality concentrate containing 98.62% fixed carbon with a graphite recovery of 94.15%. It is demonstrated that the stirred mill is more suitable for selective grinding, mineral flake protection and upgrading of layered minerals.